U.S. patent number 10,946,339 [Application Number 15/121,301] was granted by the patent office on 2021-03-16 for water treatment apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Coway Co., Ltd. The grantee listed for this patent is COWAY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Sang-Hyeon Kang, Tae-Seong Kwon, Soo-Young Lee, Hyoung-Min Moon, Byung-Kil Park.
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United States Patent |
10,946,339 |
Kwon , et al. |
March 16, 2021 |
Water treatment apparatus
Abstract
A water treatment apparatus is disclosed. The water treatment
apparatus, according to one embodiment of the present invention,
may comprise: a filter unit comprising a reverse osmosis filter for
supplying purified water filtered from raw water, and residential
water which could not be filtered from raw water; a storage unit
connected to the filter unit and comprising a storage member in
which purified water is stored, then discharged, and a housing
within which the storage member is provided, and through which
residential water inflows and outflows; and a flow path changing
valve connected to the filter unit and the storage unit, and which
allows residential water to outflow from the housing as purified
water is stored in the storage member, or allows purified water to
be discharged from the storage member as residential water inflows
into the housing.
Inventors: |
Kwon; Tae-Seong (Seoul,
KR), Lee; Soo-Young (Seoul, KR), Moon;
Hyoung-Min (Seoul, KR), Kang; Sang-Hyeon (Seoul,
KR), Park; Byung-Kil (Seoul, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
COWAY CO., LTD. |
Chungcheongnam-do |
N/A |
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Coway Co., Ltd (N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
1000005422481 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/121,301 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2015 |
PCT
Filed: |
February 13, 2015 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/KR2015/001494 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
August 24, 2016 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2015/126107 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
August 27, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20170014769 A1 |
Jan 19, 2017 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 24, 2014 [KR] |
|
|
10-2014-0021447 |
Nov 20, 2014 [KR] |
|
|
10-2014-0162380 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C02F
1/008 (20130101); B01D 61/12 (20130101); B01D
61/10 (20130101); C02F 1/441 (20130101); C02F
2201/005 (20130101); C02F 2301/04 (20130101); B01D
2313/18 (20130101); B01D 2313/50 (20130101); B01D
61/025 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B01D
61/10 (20060101); B01D 61/02 (20060101); C02F
1/00 (20060101); B01D 61/12 (20060101); C02F
1/44 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;210/117 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
201591468 |
|
Sep 2010 |
|
CN |
|
10180253 |
|
Jul 1998 |
|
JP |
|
3756217 |
|
Mar 2006 |
|
JP |
|
1020040053818 |
|
Jun 2004 |
|
KR |
|
1020120131720 |
|
Dec 2012 |
|
KR |
|
1020130073109 |
|
Jul 2013 |
|
KR |
|
1020140020342 |
|
Feb 2014 |
|
KR |
|
1020140085826 |
|
Jul 2014 |
|
KR |
|
WO 2012/091802 |
|
Jul 2012 |
|
WO |
|
WO 2013/011743 |
|
Jan 2013 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
Korean Office Action dated Sep. 15, 2017 issued in counterpart
application No. 10-2014-0162380, 9 pages. cited by applicant .
European Search Report dated Mar. 23, 2017 issued in counterpart
application No. 15751867.1-1371, 8 pages. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Clemente; Robert
Assistant Examiner: Varma; Akash K
Attorney, Agent or Firm: The Farrell Law Firm, P.C.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A water treatment apparatus comprising: a filter unit including
a reverse osmosis filter to supply purified water filtered from raw
water in the reverse osmosis filter and residential water unable to
be filtered from the raw water in the reverse osmosis filter; a
storage unit connected to the filter unit and including a storage
member in which purified water is stored and from which purified
water is discharged and a housing, which includes the storage
member disposed therein, through which residential water flows in
and out; a flow path changing valve connected to the filter unit
and the storage unit, and allowing residential water to flow from
the housing while purified water is stored in the storage member,
or allowing purified water to be discharged from the storage member
while residential water flows into the housing; a residential water
line connected between the reverse osmosis filter and a residential
water port of the flow path changing valve; a drain line branching
off from the residential water line; a drain branch line connected
between the drain line and a drain port of the flow path changing
valve; an inlet-outlet line connected between the housing and an
inlet-outlet port of the flow path changing valve; a purified line
connected between the reverse osmosis filter and the storage
member; a discharge line branching off from the purified line; and
a water discharge member directly or indirectly connected to the
discharge line, wherein the flow path changing valve comprises a
first body portion including the residential water port, the drain
port, and the inlet-outlet port and a second body portion connected
to the discharge line, the first body portion is respectively
connected to the residential water line, the drain branch line, and
the inlet-outlet line, and the second body portion is connected to
the discharge line, the flow path changing valve allows the
inlet-outlet line and the drain branch line to be connected to each
other when purified water is stored in the storage member, and
allows the inlet-outlet line and the residential water line to be
connected to each other when the purified water stored in the
storage member is discharged to a water discharge member directly
or indirectly connected to the discharge line, the first body
portion comprises a movement portion, which is connected to the
residential water line, the drain branch line, and the inlet-outlet
line, respectively, and in which a plunger is provided to be
movable; and a pressure transfer portion, which is connected to the
movement portion and the second body portion, and in which a
pressing portion is provided to be movable and to contact to the
plunger, the second body portion comprises a connection flow path
formed therein and connected to the discharge line, and the
connection flow path comprises a connection hole formed therein and
connected to the pressure transfer portion, and the plunger allows
the inlet-outlet line to be connected to the drain branch line or
the residential water line according to a location of the plunger,
and the pressing portion moves the plunger through a difference in
pressure between the first body portion and the second body
portion.
2. The water treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second
body portion is connected to a connection discharge line connected
to a water discharge member.
3. The water treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressing
portion comprises: a pressing member in contact with the plunger
and provided in the pressure transfer portion to be movable; and a
first diaphragm provided on the pressing member to receive pressure
of the second body portion.
4. The water treatment apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pressing
portion further comprises a second diaphragm provided on the
pressing member to be in contact with the plunger.
5. The water treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connection
flow path is connected to a connection discharge line connected to
a water discharge member.
6. The water treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plunger is
elastically supported by an elastic member.
7. The water treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter
unit further comprises an automatic shut-off valve allowing raw
water to flow into the filter unit or blocking raw water from
flowing into the filter unit, according to a pressure of the
purified water line.
8. The water treatment apparatus of claim 7, wherein the automatic
shut-off valve is connected to a raw water line connected to the
reverse osmosis filter to supply raw water and the purified water
line.
9. The water treatment apparatus of claim 7, wherein the filter
unit further comprises a first water filter connected to the
reverse osmosis filter by a connection line, and the automatic
shut-off valve is connected to the connection line and the purified
water line.
10. The water treatment apparatus of claim 8, wherein on a portion
of the purified water line between the automatic shut-off valve and
the reverse osmosis filter, a first check valve is provided.
11. The water treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein on the
discharge line, a second water filter is provided.
12. The water treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein on the
discharge line between a portion branching off from the purified
water line and the flow path changing valve, a second check valve
is provided.
13. The water treatment apparatus of claim 9, wherein on a portion
of the purified water line between the automatic shut-off valve and
the reverse osmosis filter, a first check valve is provided.
Description
PRIORITY
This application is a National Phase Entry of PCT International
Application No. PCT/KR2015/001494, which was filed on Feb. 13,
2015, and claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.
10-2014-0021447, which was filed on Feb. 24, 2014, and to Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2014-0162380, which was filed on Nov. 20,
2014, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates to a water treatment apparatus for
treating water flowing therein, and externally discharging treated
water to be supplied to a user. More particularly, the present
disclosure relates to a water treatment apparatus, in which
purified water, filtered by a reverse osmosis filter, is stored in
a storage member provided within a housing, or in which residential
water, unable to be filtered by a reverse osmosis filter, flows
into a housing, thereby allowing purified water stored in a storage
member to be discharged, using a single flow path changing
valve.
BACKGROUND ART
Water treatment apparatuses are devices treating water flowing
therein, and then externally discharging treated water to be
supplied to users.
As water treatment apparatuses, water purifiers, including one or
more water filters, are used to filter inflowing water, and then
supply purified water to users. Besides the water purifiers
described above, carbonators and ionic water generators are also
used. The former supplies carbon dioxide to inflowing water, to
supply carbonated water to users. The latter, in which inflowing
water is subjected to electrolysis to make it alkaline or acidic,
to thus be supplied to users, is also used.
On the other hand, reverse osmosis filters may be provided as water
filters for water treatment, and may be included in water
purifiers. When water flows into a reverse osmosis filter, a
portion of the water is filtered to become purified water, and the
remainder, unable to be filtered, is provided as residential water.
Purified water, having been filtered by a reverse osmosis filter
and discharged therefrom, has lower pressure than that of water
flowing into the reverse osmosis filter.
Water purifiers may also include water tanks, into which filtered
purified-water flows, and in which it is stored. In the case in
which a reverse osmosis filter is used as a water filter in a water
purifier, since purified water filtered by the reverse osmosis
filter has had its pressure reduced, when the purified water is
introduced to and stored in a water tank, the purified water has a
relatively low pressure. Accordingly, water purifiers have had
limitations in terms of a position in which purified water is
discharged, when the purified water is supplied to a user.
For example, only in the case that a water discharge member, such
as a cock, a faucet, or the like, connected to a water tank to
externally discharge purified water stored in the water tank, is
located at a position lower than the low-water level of the water
tank, it is possible to externally discharge purified water stored
in the water tank through the water discharge member.
In order to solve this problem, surge tanks, configured to maintain
a predetermined degree of pressure even in the case in which
purified water flows in at a relatively low pressure, have been
used as water tanks. However, in this case, since counterpressure,
from a water tank, a surge tank, may act on a reverse osmosis
filter, the flow rate of purified water discharged from the reverse
osmosis filter may be reduced, and the filtering efficiency of the
reverse osmosis filter may also be greatly reduced.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a water treatment
apparatus, provided to address at least one requirement or problem
occurring in water treatment apparatuses according to the related
art.
An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a water treatment
apparatus from which purified water may be easily externally
discharged, while using a reverse osmosis filter.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a water
treatment apparatus in which a location of a water discharge member
discharging purified water is not limited, while using a reverse
osmosis filter.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a water
treatment apparatus in which counterpressure is prevented from
acting on a reverse osmosis filter.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a water
treatment apparatus in which a reduction in a flow rate of purified
water filtered by and discharged from a reverse osmosis filter is
prevented and deteriorations in filtering efficiency are
prevented.
Technical Solution
A water treatment apparatus according to an aspect of the present
disclosure provides the following characteristics.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a water treatment
apparatus includes: a filter unit including a reverse osmosis
filter to supply purified water filtered from raw water and
residential water unable to be filtered from the raw water; a
storage unit connected to the filter unit and including a storage
member in which purified water is stored and from which purified
water is discharged and a housing, which includes the storage
member disposed therein, and, through which residential water flows
in and out; and a flow path changing valve connected to the filter
unit and the storage unit, and allowing residential water to flow
from the housing while purified water is stored in the storage
member, or allowing purified water to be discharged from the
storage member while residential water flows into the housing.
In this case, the flow path changing valve may include: a first
body portion connected to the reverse osmosis filter and the
housing by a connection line; and a second body portion connected
to the first body portion, and connected to the storage member and
the reverse osmosis filter by a connection line.
The first body portion may be respectively connected to a
residential water line connected to the reverse osmosis filter, a
drain branch line connected to a drain line branching off from the
residential water line, and an inlet-outlet line connected to the
housing. The second body portion may be connected to a discharge
line branching off from a purified line connected to the reverse
osmosis filter and the storage member.
The second body portion may be connected to a connection discharge
line connected to a water discharge member.
The flow path changing valve may allow the inlet-outlet line and
the drain branch line to be connected to each other when purified
water is stored in the storage member, and may allow the
inlet-outlet line and the residential water line to be connected to
each other when the purified water stored in the storage member is
discharged to a water discharge member directly or indirectly
connected to the discharge line.
The flow path changing valve may further include a plunger provided
in the first body portion to be movable and allowing the
inlet-outlet line to be connected to the drain branch line or the
residential water line according to a location of the plunger.
The flow path changing valve may further include a pressing portion
provided in the first body portion to be movable and moving the
plunger through a difference in pressure between the first body
portion and the second body portion.
The first body portion may include a movement portion, which is
connected to the residential water line, the drain branch line, and
the inlet-outlet line, respectively, and in which the plunger is
provided to be movable; and a pressure transfer portion, which is
connected to the movement portion and the second body portion, and
in which the pressing portion is provided to be movable.
The pressing portion may include: a pressing member in contact with
the plunger and provided in the pressure transfer portion to be
movable; and a first diaphragm provided on the pressing member to
receive pressure of the second body portion.
The pressing portion may further include a second diaphragm
provided on the pressing member to be in contact with the
plunger.
The second body portion may include a connection flow path formed
therein and connected to the discharge line, and the connection
flow path may include a connection hole formed therein and
connected to the pressure transfer portion.
The connection flow path may be connected to a connection discharge
line connected to a water discharge member.
The plunger may be elastically supported by an elastic member.
The filter unit may further include an automatic shut-off valve
allowing raw water to flow into the filter unit or blocking raw
water from flowing into the filter unit, according to an amount of
pressure in the purified water line.
The automatic shut-off valve may be connected to a raw water line
connected to the reverse osmosis filter to supply raw water and the
purified water line.
The filter unit may further include a first water filter connected
to the reverse osmosis filter by a connection line, and the
automatic shut-off valve may be connected to the connection line
and the purified water line.
On a portion of the purified water line between the automatic
shut-off valve and the reverse osmosis filter, a first check valve
may be provided.
On the discharge line, a second water filter may be provided.
On the discharge line between a portion branching off from the
purified water line and the flow path changing valve, a second
check valve may be provided.
Advantageous Effects
As set forth above, according to exemplary embodiments in the
present disclosure, by using a single flow path changing valve,
purified water filtered by a reverse osmosis filter may be stored
in a storage member provided within a housing, or residential water
unable to be filtered by the reverse osmosis filter may flow into
the housing, thereby discharging purified water stored in a storage
member.
In addition, according to an exemplary embodiment in the present
disclosure, while a reverse osmosis filter is used, purified water
may be easily externally discharged.
In addition, according to an exemplary embodiment, while a reverse
osmosis filter is used, a location of a water discharge member from
which purified water is discharged may not be limited.
In addition, according to an exemplary embodiment in the present
disclosure, counterpressure may not act on a reverse osmosis
filter.
Further, according to an exemplary embodiment in the present
disclosure, a reduction in a flow rate of purified water filtered
and discharged by a reverse osmosis filter may be prevented, and
deterioration in filtering efficiency may be prevented.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a water treatment apparatus
according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a flow
path changing valve included in a water treatment apparatus
according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another example of a
flow path changing valve included in a water treatment apparatus
according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another example of a
flow path changing valve included in a water treatment apparatus
according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure.
FIG. 5 is a view illustrating operations of a water treatment
apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment in the present
disclosure, in a case in which purified water is stored in a
storage member.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a flow path changing valve
illustrated in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a view illustrating operations of a water treatment
apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment in the present
disclosure, in a case in which purified water is discharged from a
storage member.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a flow path changing valve
illustrated in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a view illustrating operations of a water treatment
apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment in the present
disclosure, in a case in which a storage member is full of purified
water.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a flow path changing valve
illustrated in FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 illustrates a configuration of a water treatment apparatus
according to another exemplary embodiment in the present
disclosure.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a flow path changing valve
included in a water treatment apparatus according to another
exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure.
FIG. 13 illustrates a configuration of a water treatment apparatus
according to another exemplary embodiment in the present
disclosure.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a flow path changing valve
included in a water treatment apparatus according to another
exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure.
MODE FOR INVENTION
Hereinafter, a water treatment apparatus according to an exemplary
embodiment in the present disclosure will be described in detail,
to provide an understanding of characteristics according to
exemplary embodiments in the present disclosure.
Exemplary embodiments in the present disclosure will be described
in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The
invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and
should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set
forth herein. Thus, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure
may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed
as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these
embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough
and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to
those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the shapes and
dimensions of elements may be exaggerated for clarity, and the same
reference numerals will be used throughout to designate the same or
like elements.
FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a water treatment apparatus
according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a flow
path changing valve included in a water treatment apparatus
according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another example of a
flow path changing valve included in a water treatment apparatus
according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another example of a
flow path changing valve included in a water treatment apparatus
according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure.
FIG. 5 is a view illustrating operations of a water treatment
apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment in the present
disclosure, in a case in which purified water is stored in a
storage member. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a flow path
changing valve illustrated in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a view illustrating operations of a water treatment
apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment in the present
disclosure, in a case in which purified water is discharged from a
storage member. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a flow path
changing valve illustrated in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a view illustrating operations of a water treatment
apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment in the present
disclosure, in a case in which a storage member is full of purified
water. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a flow path changing
valve illustrated in FIG. 9.
A water treatment apparatus 100 according to an exemplary
embodiment may include a filter unit 200, a storage unit 300, and a
flow path changing valve 400, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
Filter Unit
The filter unit 200 may include a reverse osmosis filter 210. Thus,
the filter unit 200 may supply purified water filtered from raw
water and residential water, unable to be filtered from raw water,
as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a raw water line LRW connected to a raw
water supply source (not shown) of a waterworks or the like may be
connected to the filter unit 200. Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 5
and 7, raw water from a raw water supply source may be supplied to
the filter unit 200.
A reducing valve VRD may be provided on the raw water line LRW as
illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, in a case in which pressure of raw
water supplied by the raw water supply source is higher than a
predetermined pressure, pressure of the raw water may be reduced to
a predetermined level while passing through the reducing valve VRD,
and then, may be supplied to the filter unit 200.
The filter unit 200 may further include a first water filter 220
connected to the reverse osmosis filter 210 by a connection line
LC. The first water filter 220 may be connected to the raw water
line LRW. Thus, raw water may first be filtered by the first water
filter 220 and may then be filtered by the reverse osmosis filter
210.
As the first water filter 220, any water filter capable of
filtering water, used in the art, may be used without particular
limitation thereon.
In addition, the filter unit 200 may include other water filters as
well as the first water filter 220. The number of other water
filters included in the filter unit 200 is not particularly
limited, and thus, any number thereof may be available for the use
thereof.
The reverse osmosis filter 210 may be connected to a storage member
310 included in a storage unit 300 to be described later by a
purified water line LPW. Thus, purified water filtered by the
reverse osmosis filter 210 may flow in the purified water line LPW
and may be stored in the storage member 310, as illustrated in FIG.
5.
In addition, the reverse osmosis filter 210 may be connected to a
flow path changing valve 400 to be described later by a residential
water line LLW. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 7, residential water
may flow in the residential water line LLW to be supplied to a
housing 320 included in the storage unit 300 to be described later.
Then, purified water stored in the storage member 310 may be
discharged from the storage member 310.
A drain line LD may branch off from the foregoing residential water
line LLW. A residential water valve VLW may be provided on the
drain line LD. Further, the drain line LD may be connected to a
drain branch line LDS connected to the flow path changing valve 400
described below.
Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 5, residential water discharged from
the housing 320 of the storage unit 300 and flowing in an
inlet-outlet line LEI connecting the housing 320 of the storage
unit 300 to the flow path changing valve 400 may be externally
discharged through the drain branch line LDS and the drain line
LD.
In a different manner, a discharge line LE branching off from the
purified water line LPW may be connected to the flow path changing
valve 400 to be described below, so as to be connected to a water
discharge member 500 of a cock, a faucet or the like. Thus, as
illustrated in FIG. 7, water stored in the storage member 310 of
the storage unit 300 may flow to the water discharge member 500
through the purified water line LPW, the discharge line LE, and the
flow path changing valve 400, to thus be externally discharged and
supplied to a user.
In addition, a second water filter 230 may be provided on the
discharge line LE as illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, as illustrated in
FIG. 7, when purified water stored in the storage member 310 is
discharged through the discharge line LE, the purified water may be
filtered by the second water filter 230 and then discharged.
As the second water filter 230 provided on the discharge line LE,
any water filter capable of filtering water, used in the art, may
be used without particular limitation. In addition, the number of
water filters provided on the discharge line LE is not particularly
limited, and thus, any number thereof may be employed.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a second check valve CV2 may be provided
on the discharge line LE between a portion branching off from the
purified water line LPW and the flow path changing valve 400.
Thus, pressure in a portion of the discharge line LE between the
second check valve CV2 and the water discharge member 500, and in a
connection discharge line LCE connecting the flow path changing
valve 400 to the water discharge member 500, may be maintained at a
predetermined pressure. As illustrated in FIG. 5, when purified
water is stored in the storage member 310 included in the storage
unit 300 to be described later, the flow path changing valve 400
may allow the inlet-outlet line LEI and the drain branch line LDS
to be continuously connected to each other as illustrated in FIG.
6.
The filter unit 200 may further include an automatic shut-off valve
240. The automatic shut-off valve 240 may allow raw water to flow
into the filter unit 200 or to block inflow of raw water thereinto
according to pressure in the purified water line LPW. To this end,
the automatic shut-off valve 240 may be connected to the raw water
line LRW or the connection line LC. In addition, the automatic
shut-off valve 240 may be connected to the purified water line
LPW.
As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7, when purified water flows into the
storage member 310 to be stored therein or is discharged from the
storage member 310, since the purified water line LPW has pressure
lower than a predetermined pressure level, for example, a pressure
of the raw water line LRW or the connection line LC, the automatic
shut-off valve 240 may be opened. Thus, raw water may flow into the
filter unit 200.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, when the storage member 310 is full of
purified water, pressure of the purified water line LPW may reach a
predetermined pressure level, for example, a pressure corresponding
to 60% of pressure of raw water, and thus, the automatic shut-off
valve 240 may be closed. Thus, raw water may not flow into the
filter unit 200.
The configuration of the automatic shut-off valve 240 is not
particularly limited. Any configuration thereof, used in the art,
in which raw water may flow into the filter unit 200 or the inflow
of raw water may be blocked according to pressure in the purified
water line LPW, may be employed.
A first check valve CV1 may be provided on a portion of the
purified water line LPW between the automatic shut-off valve 240
and the reverse osmosis filter 210 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus,
as illustrated in FIG. 9, when the storage member 310 is full of
purified water, even in a case in which water present in the
reverse osmosis filter 210 is discharged through the drain line LD,
a flow of water present in the purified water line LPW, into the
reverse osmosis filter 210, may be prevented. Thus, pressure of the
purified water line LPW may be maintained at a predetermined level.
In addition, the automatic shut-off valve 240 may be continuously
maintained in a state in which it is closed without opening.
Storage Unit
The storage unit 300 may be connected to the filter unit 200. The
storage unit 300 may include the storage member 310 and the housing
320.
Purified water may be stored in the storage member 310 as
illustrated in FIG. 5. Further, purified water stored in the
storage member 310 may be discharged from the storage member 310 as
illustrated in FIG. 7. To this end, the storage member 310 may be
connected to the purified water line LPW as described above.
The housing 320 may include the storage member 310 disposed
therein. In addition, residential water may flow into the housing
320 as illustrated in FIG. 7, or may flow from the housing 320 as
illustrated in FIG. 5. To this end, the housing 320 may be
connected to the inlet-outlet line LEI connected to the flow path
changing valve 900 to be described later.
Flow Path Changing Valve
The flow path changing valve 400 may be connected to the filter
unit 200 and the storage unit 300. In addition, as illustrated in
FIG. 5, residential water may flow from the housing 320 of the
storage unit 300 while purified water is stored in the storage
member 310 of the storage unit 300 by the flow path changing valve
400. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 7, purified water may be
discharged from the storage member 310 while residential water
flows into the housing 320 by the flow path changing valve 400.
Thus, purified water may be easily externally discharged, while
using the reverse osmosis filter 210. In addition, a location of
the water discharge member 500 discharging purified water may not
be limited.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, for example, when purified water is
stored in the storage member 310, the flow path changing valve 400
may allow the inlet-outlet line LEI and the drain branch line LDS
to be connected to each other.
Thus, residential water stored in the housing 320 may flow through
the inlet-outlet line LEI and the drain branch line LDS. The
residential water flowing in the drain branch line LDS may flow
into the drain line LD to be drained externally through the drain
line LD.
In this case, since the water discharge member 500 is closed,
purified water filtered by the reverse osmosis filter 210 flows in
the purified water line LPW and is stored in the storage member 310
of the storage unit 300.
In addition, when purified water stored in the storage member 310
is externally discharged through the water discharge member 500 as
illustrated in FIG. 7, the flow path changing valve 400 may allow
the inlet-outlet line LEI and the residential water line LLW to be
connected to each other.
Thus, residential water unable to be filtered by the reverse
osmosis filter 210 may flow in the residential water line LLW and
the inlet-outlet line LEI, to thus flow into the housing 320 of the
storage unit 300. In addition, purified water stored in the storage
member 310 may flow into the water discharge member 500 through the
purified water line LPW and the discharge line LE, since the water
discharge member 500 is opened. Further, the purified water may be
externally discharged through the water discharge member 500, to be
supplied to a user.
The flow path changing valve 400 may include a first body portion
410 and a second body portion 420 as illustrated in FIG. 2.
The first body portion 410 may be connected to the reverse osmosis
filter 210 and the housing 320 by a connection line. To this end,
the residential water line LLW, the drain branch line LDS, and the
inlet-outlet line LEI may be respectively connected to the first
body portion 410.
The first body portion 410 may include a residential water port 411
connected to the residential water line LLW, a drain port 412
connected to the drain branch line LDS, and an inlet-outlet port
413 connected to the inlet-outlet line LEI.
In addition, a plunger 430 may be provided in the first body
portion 410, to be movable. According to a location of the plunger
430, the inlet-outlet line LEI may be connected to the drain branch
line LDS as illustrated in FIG. 5, or may be connected to the
residential water line LLW as illustrated in FIG. 7.
The first body portion 410 may include a movement portion 414, in
which the plunger 430 is provided to be movable. The movement
portion 414 may be connected to the residential water port 411, the
drain port 412, and the inlet-outlet port 413. Thus, the movement
portion 414 may be respectively connected to the residential water
line LLW, the drain branch line LDS, and the inlet-outlet line
LEI.
In addition, in the first body portion 410, a pressing portion 440
may be provided to be movable. The pressing portion 440 may allow
the plunger 430 to be moved according to a pressure difference
between the first body portion 410 and the second body portion
420.
A pressure transfer portion 415 may be formed in the first body
portion 410 to be connected to the movement portion 414 described
above and the second body portion 920 to be described later. The
pressing portion 440 may be provided in the pressure transfer
portion 415 to be movable.
The pressing portion 440 may include a pressing member 441, a first
diaphragm 442, and a second diaphragm 443, as illustrated in FIG.
2.
The pressing member 441 may be in contact with the plunger 430. As
illustrated in FIG. 2, the second diaphragm 443 is provided on the
pressing member 441 to be in contact with the plunger 930. In
detail, the pressing member 441 may be in indirect contact with the
plunger 430. In addition, the pressing member 441 may also be in
direct contact with the plunger 430 as illustrated in FIG. 3 to be
described later.
The first diaphragm 442 may be provided on the pressing member 441
to receive pressure of the second body portion 420. In addition,
the second diaphragm 443 may be provided on the pressing member 441
to be in contact with the plunger 430.
In a different manner, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the pressing
portion 440 may only include the pressing member 441 and the first
diaphragm 442. In detail, the pressing member 441 may also be in
direct contact with the plunger 430, instead of being in indirect
contact therewith through the second diaphragm 443.
However, the configuration of the pressing portion 440 is not
particularly limited. Any configuration of the pressing portion
440, used in the art, in which the pressing portion 440 may be
provided to be movable in the first body portion 410 and which may
allow the plunger 430 to be moved according to a pressure
difference between the first body portion 410 and the second body
portion 420, may be employed.
In a different manner, the plunger 430 may be elastically supported
by an elastic member 431 as illustrated in FIG. 4. For example, the
elastic member 431 may be provided on the plunger 430 to
elastically support an upper portion of the plunger 430. Thus,
elastic force of the elastic member 431 may act on the upper
portion of the plunger 430.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, as force acts on an upper portion of the
plunger 430 from residential water having flowed to the residential
water port 411, when the plunger 430 descends, even in a case in
which the force acting on the upper portion of the plunger 430 by
the residential water is relatively weak, elasticity of the elastic
member 431 may act together therewith. Thus, the plunger 430 may
easily descend.
In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 6, when force applied to the
first diaphragm 442 of the pressing portion 440, by pressure acting
on a connection flow path 421 formed in the second body portion 420
to be described later, is increased to be greater than force
applied to the upper portion of the plunger 430 by the residential
water, the plunger 430 may ascend.
As described above with reference to FIG. 4, in the configuration
in which the upper portion of the plunger 430 is elastically
supported by the elastic member 431, only when force applied to the
first diaphragm 442 of the pressing portion 440 is greater than a
sum of force applied to the upper portion of the plunger 430 by the
residential water, and elasticity applied to the upper portion of
the plunger 430 by the elastic member 431, the plunger 430 may
ascend.
Thus, if the plunger does not necessarily need to ascend, the
plunger 430 may not ascend only with force applied to the first
diaphragm 442 of the pressing portion 440 through pressure acting
on the connection flow path 421 of the second body portion 420.
Therefore, the plunger 430 may exhibit reliability in operations
thereof.
Although the elastic member 431 may elastically support the upper
portion of the plunger 430 as described above with reference to
FIG. 4, the elastic member 431 may also elastically support a lower
portion of the plunger 430. In addition, elastic members 431 may
also support upper and lower portions of the plunger 430,
respectively.
The elastic member 431 elastically supporting the plunger 430 is
not limited to a coil spring illustrated in FIG. 4. Any member
capable of elastically supporting the plunger 430, used in the art,
of a plate spring or the like, may be used.
The second body portion 420 may be connected to the first body
portion 410. The second body portion 420 may be connected to the
storage member 310 and the reverse osmosis filter 210 by a
connection line. To this end, the discharge line LE described above
may be connected to the second body portion 420. Further, the
second body portion 420 may be connected to a connection discharge
line LCE connected to the water discharge member 500.
The connection flow path 421 may be formed in the second body
portion 420 to be connected to the discharge line LE and the
connection discharge line LCE. In detail, the discharge line LE may
be connected to one end of the connection flow path 421, and the
connection discharge line LCE may be connected to another end of
the connection flow path 421.
In addition, a connection hole 421a connected to the pressure
transfer portion 415 of the first body portion 410 may be formed in
the connection flow path 421. Thus, pressure of the connection flow
path 421 of the second body portion 420 may be transferred to the
first diaphragm 442 of the pressing member 440 through the
connection hole 421a.
In a different manner, as illustrated in FIG. 2, although the
second body portion 420 may be connected to the first body portion
410, in such a manner that the connection flow path 421, and a
virtual line connecting the drain port 412 and the inlet-outlet
port 413 of the first body portion 410 to each other, are parallel
to each other, the second body portion 420 may also be connected to
the first body portion 410 to be inclined with respect to each
other, for example, to be perpendicular to each other, for
convenience of connection thereof to the discharge line LE and the
connection discharge line LCE.
In addition, the second body portion 420 and the first body portion
410 may also be configured, in such a manner that the connection
flow path 421 of the second body portion 420, and a virtual line
connecting the drain port 412 of the first body portion 410 to the
inlet-outlet port 413 thereof to each other, form any angle or a
specific angle.
For example, the first body portion 410 and the second body portion
420 may be formed to have cylindrical shapes, square parallelepiped
shapes, or rectangular parallelepiped shapes.
By the configuration described above, in a state in which purified
water is not stored in the storage member 310 and the water
discharge member 500 is closed, pressure in the purified water line
LPW may be lower than a predetermined pressure. Thus, the automatic
shut-off valve 240 is opened, to allow raw water to flow in through
the raw water line LRW as illustrated in FIG. 5.
The raw water having flowed into the raw water line LRW may pass
through the reducing valve VRD and flow into the first water filter
220 to be filtered. Raw water filtered by the first water filter
220 may flow into the reverse osmosis filter 210. In the raw water
having flowed into the reverse osmosis filter 210, purified water
filtered by the reverse osmosis filter 210 may flow in the purified
water line LPW and be stored in the storage member 310 of the
storage unit 300.
When purified water filtered by the reverse osmosis filter 210 is
continuously stored in the storage member 310 of the storage unit
300, pressure of the storage member 310 may be increased. Thus,
pressure in the discharge line LE branching off from the purified
water line LPW connected to the storage member 310, and pressure in
the connection flow path 421 of the flow path changing valve 400
connected to the discharge line LE may also be increased.
Further, when force applied to the first diaphragm 442 of the
pressing portion 440, by pressure of the connection flow path 421,
is increased to be greater than force applied to an upper portion
of the plunger 430 by residential water, as illustrated in FIG. 6,
the plunger 430 may be moved to a position in which the
inlet-outlet line LEI and the drain branch line LDS are connected,
for example, the plunger 430 may ascend.
Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the residential water present in
the housing 320 of the storage unit 300 may flow in the
inlet-outlet line LEI to thus flow into the drain branch line LDS.
Then, the residential water may be drained through the drain line
LD. Thus, purified water may be continuously stored in the storage
member 310 of the storage unit 300.
As such, when purified water filtered by the reverse osmosis filter
210 is stored in the storage member 310 of the storage unit 300,
since pressure other than pressure of purified water does not act
on the storage member 310, counterpressure may not act on the
reverse osmosis filter 210.
Thus, a flow rate of purified water filtered by and discharged from
the reverse osmosis filter 210 may not be reduced, and filtering
efficiency may not be deteriorated.
In a different manner, residential water unable to be filtered by
the reverse osmosis filter 210 may flow in the residential water
line LLW as illustrated in FIG. 5 to only flow to the residential
water port 411 of the flow path changing valve 400 as illustrated
in FIG. 6, or may be drained through the drain line LD.
In a different manner, when the storage member 310 of the storage
unit 300 is full of purified water as illustrated in FIG. 9,
pressure in the purified water line LPW may be increased to be
higher than a predetermined pressure. Thus, the automatic shut-off
valve 240 may be closed, and raw water may not flow in through the
raw water line LRW.
In this case, as described above, even in a case in which water
present in the reverse osmosis filter 210 is discharged through the
drain line LD, pressure in the purified water line LPW may be
maintained at a predetermined level by the first check valve CV1.
Since pressure in the purified water line LPW may be maintained at
a predetermined pressure as described above, the automatic shut-off
valve 240 may not be opened while a closed state thereof is
continuously maintained.
In a state in which the storage member 310 of the storage unit 300
is full of purified water, when the water discharge member 500 is
opened as illustrated in FIG. 7, purified water stored in the
storage member 310 may flow in the purified water line LPW and may
flow into the second water filter 230 provided on the discharge
line LE to be filtered.
Purified water filtered by the second water filter 230 may flow to
the water discharge member 500 through the discharge line LE, the
connection flow path 421 of the flow path changing valve 400, and
the connection discharge line LCE. In addition, purified water may
be externally discharged through the water discharge member 500 to
be supplied to a user.
As the purified water is discharged through the water discharge
member 500, when pressure of the purified water line LPW is lowered
to be less than a predetermined pressure, the automatic shut-off
valve 240 may be opened. In addition, raw water may flow in through
the raw water line LRW to be filtered by the first water filter 220
as illustrated in FIG. 7.
The raw water filtered by the first water filter 220 may flow into
the reverse osmosis filter 210 as illustrated in FIG. 7. In raw
water having flowed into the reverse osmosis filter 210, purified
water filtered by the reverse osmosis filter 210 may flow in the
purified water line LPW to flow into the second water filter 230.
In addition, residential water unable to be filtered by the reverse
osmosis filter 210 may flow in the residential water line LLW or
the drain line LD.
In this case, residential water unable to be filtered by the
reverse osmosis filter 210 may flush the reverse osmosis filter
210. Thus, a lifespan of the reverse osmosis filter 210 may be
extended.
Residential water may flow to the residential water port 411 of the
flow path changing valve 400 through the residential water line
LLW, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Thus, residential water may apply
force to one side of the plunger 430, for example, to an upper
portion of the plunger 430 as illustrated in FIG. 8.
In addition, when force applied to an upper portion of the plunger
430 from the residential water is increased to be greater than
force applied to the first diaphragm 442 of the pressing portion
440 by purified water flowing in the connection flow path 421 of
the flow path changing valve 400, the plunger 430 may be moved to a
position in which the inlet-outlet line LEI and the residential
water line LLW are connected to each other, for example, may
descend as illustrated in FIG. 8.
Thus, residential water flowing in the residential water line LLW
may flow into the inlet-outlet line LEI and flow in the
inlet-outlet line LEI to then flow into the housing 320 of the
storage portion 300. Thus, purified water stored in the storage
member 310 of the storage unit 300 may be continuously
discharged.
Other Exemplary Embodiments
FIG. 11 illustrates a configuration of a water treatment apparatus
according to another exemplary embodiment in the present
disclosure. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a flow path
changing valve included in a water treatment apparatus according to
another exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure.
FIG. 13 illustrates a configuration of a water treatment apparatus
according to another exemplary embodiment in the present
disclosure. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a flow path
changing valve included in a water treatment apparatus according to
another exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure.
The water treatment apparatuses 100 according to other exemplary
embodiments in the present disclosure has a difference from the
water treatment apparatus 100 according to the exemplary embodiment
in the present disclosure described above with reference to FIGS. 1
to 10, in terms of a configuration of connection between a
discharge line LE, a flow path changing valve 400, and a water
discharge member 500.
Thus, only differences therebetween will be described below, and a
description of configurations overlapping with those of the
foregoing exemplary embodiment will be substituted with the
description above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10.
With reference to FIG. 11, in a water treatment apparatus 100
according to another exemplary embodiment in the present
disclosure, a discharge line LE may be directly connected to a
water discharge member 500. In addition, a branch connection line
LSC branching off from the discharge line LE may be connected to
one end of a connection flow path 421 formed in the second body
portion 420 of the flow path changing valve 400. Another end of the
connection flow path 421 may be closed by a closure member 422 as
illustrated in FIG. 12.
In such a configuration, pressure of the discharge line LE may also
be transferred to the connection flow path 421 of the flow path
changing valve 400, to allow the flow path changing valve 400 to
operate.
In a different manner, in a water treatment apparatus 100 according
to another exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure, a
discharge line LE may be directly connected to a water discharge
member 500 as illustrated in FIG. 13. In addition, as illustrated
in FIG. 14, a connection flow path 421 formed in a second body
portion 420 of a flow path changing valve 400 may have one end and
the other end which are not open. In addition, a branch connection
line LSC branching off from a discharge line LE may be connected to
a connection flow path 421, for example, to a central portion of
the connection flow path 421, as illustrated in FIG. 14.
In such a configuration, pressure of the discharge line LE may also
be transferred to the connection flow path 421 of the flow path
changing valve 400, to allow the flow path changing valve 400 to
operate.
As set forth above, with water treatment apparatuses according to
exemplary embodiments in the present disclosure, by using a single
flow path changing valve, purified water filtered by a reverse
osmosis filter may be stored in a storage member provided within a
housing, or residential water unable to be filtered by the reverse
osmosis filter may flow into the housing, thereby discharging
purified water stored in a storage member.
Thus, while a reverse osmosis filter is used, purified water may be
easily externally discharged, and a location of a water discharge
member from which purified water is discharged may not be
limited.
Further, counterpressure may not act on a reverse osmosis filter, a
flow rate of purified water filtered and discharged by a reverse
osmosis filter may not be reduced. In addition, filtering
efficiency may not be deteriorated.
The configuration of a water treatment apparatus according to
exemplary embodiments is not limited to the description above. The
entirety or a portion of the respective exemplary embodiments in
the present disclosure described above may be selectively combined
and configured to be modified.
* * * * *